Judith Bryant has lived [and made pots] in northern Vermont for over 35 years. She grew up in Williamstown, Massachusetts and in Wisconsin, then graduated from Barnard College in New York. Pursuing an interest that began in junior high school, she studied ceramics in Boulder, Colorado and in Alfred, New York, as well as in Vermont. "I've just retrieved my first 8th grade pot from my mother's window sill. It's pretty good - so I think I must have had help from the teacher!"

Judith throwing pots.

Judith glazing pots.

In the 1970's, Judith taught pottery classes and acted as assistant director during six years at the Shelburne Craft School. Later, she served as resident potter and teacher at the Vermont State Craft Center in Middlebury. Since the mid-1980's, she has worked in private studios in Vermont, and has occasionally collaborated with area art teachers on clay projects in the schools. For several years, she has made her studio and showroom in a renovated barn near the center of Lincoln, in the hills above Bristol, Vermont.

Judith lives in a cabin near a brook, in the woods of Starksboro. Clay continues to be a consuming interest. "I'll always be fascinated by the process...the rhythm and flow of work on the wheel, the alchemy of transforming fluid clay through fire into pottery. Then the pieces go off like ambassadors into the world. I'm always pleased to hear people's reactions, whether it's someone saying 'I only buy one piece of art for my home each year, and this is it!' or telling me how much they love drinking coffee from my mug, their favorite...Whatever it's used for, I'm happy that my pottery is a part of people's lives."